Ring frame control device



March 29, 1 c. s. ADAMS ET AL 2,930,180

RING FRAME CONTROL DEVICE Filed Aug. 8. 1958- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jg. 2 O

INVENTORS.

C L $.ADAMS y L l5 A. DEAL March 29, 1960 C. S. ADAMS ET AL RING FRAME CONTROL DEVICE Filed Aug. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS: Czcu. S. ADAMS? ATTORN EY BY LEwls A. DEAL United States at? Q RING FRAME CONTROL DEVICE Application August 8, 1958, Serial No. 753,897

9 Claims. (Cl. 57-81) This invention relates to the twistingjof textile yarns and more particularly to a device to sense ends down.

Many previous attempts have been made to construct a sensing device for use on a ring frame and the like for sensing ends down. Some of these devices have involved modifications to the pig-tail guides or have required the addition of a drop wire or feeler mechanisms which leaned on or were guided by the textile strand. From these prior attempts, it has been learned that any mechanism leaning on or otherwise contacting of the textile strands have ill effects on the yarn produced thereby because of increasing the stretch of the textile strand and often causing the strand to break. Since twisting speeds have been increased and the size package has alsobeen increased, it has become more important than ever to furnish adequate supervision of the twisting operations with respect to ends down without alfecting the cost of the finished product to any substantial extent. The problem has also been made more important since the mills are more concerned with cleanliness than ever. Increased labor costs and the need for higher quality production has accentuated this problem which has long existed in connection with the twisting operations.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an effective device for a spinning frame or twister and the like for sensing ends down.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a ring frame control device for sensing ends down which will operate electrically and which will not engage the textile strand being produced.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control device for indicating ends down using the ring and the traveler positioned at rest, following a stretching or breaking of the textile strand for actuating a mechanism sensing the ends down condition.

Another object of this invention is to reduce labor costs by providing a signaling device which will show the operator where attention is needed so that the search for ends down will be minimized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sensing device for indicating ends down which does not contact the textile strand.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of electrical sensing means which may serve as a counting mechanism indicating the number of ends down.

Some of the methods provided to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein some illustrative examples of the invention are shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a ring frame and the like having a device constructed in accordance with the present invention shown therewith,

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through a twisting ring and holder as shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken Patented. Mar. 29, 19.6.0.

through the twisting ring holder and. ring. rail showing adevice constructed in accordance with, amodifiedlform of the invention, and

' Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view similar to Figure 3 showing a device constructed innaccordance -witli a modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figure 2 shows a twisting ring which includes a contact or con,- ductor element A which will be contacted by the traveler B when the yarn breaks or becomes slack. causing the traveler to fall into contact with the upper surfaces. of the twisting ring C. The conducting portion A is in: sulated from the ring C which is grounded throughthe. twisting ring to the frame of. the. machine. The. conducting portion A is electrically connected to another conductor D. A sensing circuit E. is; connectedacross the conductor D and ground and it will be noted that the falling of the traveler B due to an ends down con? dition will result in the closing of the circuitlbetween the conductor D and ground across the sensing circuit E which will then serve as a control for the ends down condition.

Figure 1 shows a ring frame and the like with which the ends down control device of the present inventionlis adapted to be employed. The. frame is indicated at 10 and has a suitable creel arrangement 11 positioned longis tudinally along the top thereof carryingroving or yarn packages 11a. The textile strands or rovings R arelfed thence throughthe pig-tail guides 13 to be wound on vthe bobbins 14 in the form of yarn Y. The bobbins 14 are carried on spindles 15 mounted in a bolster rail 16 and the whorls 17 of the spindles are engaged by driving tapes 17a which are driven by the cylinder drive (not shown). The bobbins '14 are positioned upon the spindles 15 and project upwardly through a ring rail 18. The ring rail 18. is essentially a channel shaped memher having its arms projecting downwardly and having a plurality of spaced circular holes 18a therein for accommodating a twisting ring holder 19. The holder 19 iscarried therein by a retaining ring 20 which is shown positioned in a notch 19a in the holder to confine the holder 19 within the annular holes 18a. During the. twisting operation the ring rail 18 traverses in an up and down motion to distribute the yarn in even coursesuponthe rotating bobbins 14.

The holder 19 is an annular ring having a groove 19c in the inside top portion thereof for accommodating a twisting ring C which is substantially I-shaped in cross section. The ring C has a lower flange 21, avertical web portion 22 and an upper flange 23 integral therewith. The upper flange 23 serves to confine the traveler B V thereon as it travels around the ring C. The traveler-B- includes an annular portion 24 and a pair of inwardly projecting legs 25 and 26 which pass beneath the upper. flange 23. The traveler B is normally held in a raised position as shown in Figure 2 and serves as a guide for the yarn as it is wound upon the bobbins '14.

The conducting element A of the present invention is shown in Figure 2 as being an annular portionx23a which forms the outer portion of thefiange 23 and which, is electrically insulated by suitable material '27 from the remainder of the ring C. The insulating material 27.

extends downwardly within the slot 28 within the ring wall C so as to provide insulation for a conductor which passes within the slot 28 and is suitably connected to the conducting element D as by soldering. The con} ducting element D may be secured to any suitable. portionv of the ring rail 18 and is shown secured tothe.

outer lower portion of the depending flange. 18a. of. the;

ring rail 18by a C-clamp 18b.

' The'ring C is electrically connectedto ground, it this case the frame of the machine, so that it is evident that if a textile strand being wound upon a bobbin 14 breaks that the traveler B will fall against the upper portion of the ring C so thatthe traveler will then serve asa conducting element bridging the annular conducting element A, which is connected to the conductor D, and the remainder of the upper flange 23 which is connected to ground through the ring C. a

The sensing circuit E, which is thus connected across the conductor D and ground to serve any desirable useful function in the control of an ends down condition, becomes actuated. The sensing circuit E includes a primary coil 32 which is supplied with a source of electrical energy through the double switch 31 and suitable fuses 31a which are shown connected in series with the switch 31. A secondary coil 33 is shown in inductive relation to the primary coil 32. The secondary coil 33 is positioned across ground and the low potential side of a relay coil 34 which operates the switch 35. The switch 35 is provided to insure an effective closing of the circuit while the switch 36 is provided to place the light or any suitable signaling means 37 and the like across the primary circuit. A coil 38 may be placed in parallel With the light 37 to operate a counting mechanism R. If desired, a stop motion device (not shown) could be actuated in lieu of the signalling means shown to stop the machine upon the occurrences of an ends down condition.

Figure 3 shows a device constructed in accordance with a modified form of the invention in which like reference characters are used to refer to like parts with prime notations added. It will be noted that the ring C is divided substantially down the middle to provide an inner annular portion 40 and an outer annular portion 41. The inner annular portion 40 is insulated from the outer annular portion 41 and the holder 19' by the insulation 42. The inner annular portion 4% forms the conducting element of this embodiment of the invention and is shown in electrical connection with a power connection through a spring contact 43. A sensing circuit similar to that described in connection with the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 is connected across this power connection and ground. The holder 19' is shown connected to ground in Figure 3.

Upon the accurrence of an ends down condition the traveler B falls into engagement with the upper surface of the ring C to short the inner portion 49 and the outer grounded portion 41 to close the sensing circuit (not shown) as described in connection with the embodiment of the invention previously described.

Figure 4 shows another modified form of the invention in which the conducting element is shown in the form of an annular ring 50 carried by the outer portion of the vertical web 22" of the ring C". It will be noted that in the description of this embodiment of the invention like reference characters are used with double prime notations added to indicate like parts. The annular conducting element 50 is suitably insulated from the ring by the insulation 51. An inner annular ring 52 is provided and is insulated from the ring C" by the insulation 52a and serves to impart a carnming action against the traveler B" so as to cause engagement between the outer ring 25 and the conductor 50 when an ends down condition occurs. The conductor element 50 is connected to a power connection through a spring contact 53 while the camrning ring 52 is grounded through a spring contact 54 which is carried by the inner portion of the holder 19" by the screw 55.

Upon the occurrence of an ends down condition the traveler B" falls into engagement with the upper surface of the ring C" and the leg 25" of the traveler B" is cammed into engagement with the conducting element 50 by the ring 52 to short the conducting element 50 to ground and close a suitable sensing circuit.

Several other forms of the invention are presently contemplated including a modification in which a plastic or other insulating type material could be employed to construct the twisting ring and a pair of spaced annular conductors embedded in the upper portion of the ring so as to have exposed portions for contact by the traveler upon falling so as to close suitable contacts across the sensing circuit. It is contemplated that suitable devices located in close proximity to the twisting ring and which could be actuated by the traveler upon the breaking of the textile strand so as to close a suitable sensing circuit may be employed to carry out the objects of the invention.

It is further contemplated that the sensing circuit could actuate suitable signals preferably in the form of a light as shown herein which may be located so as to signal both the bay and the particular ring frame where an ends down condition has occurred. Signals could also be ar ranged to indicate the side of the ring frame involved so as to further limit the searching of the operator. As stated above, counting mechanisms can be employed to provide a record of the number of ends down. The operator may simply piece a textile strand together and the frame operation continued. This is an important factor because the operator will not have to become accustomed to piecing the yarn in a different fashion than that to which he has already become accustomed.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and changes and variations will occur of those skilled in the art which may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile machine having a ring and a traveler which is normally supported in raised position by the yarn being wound thereby during a normal twisting operation, the improvement including, an electrical sensing circuit which is normally open during a normal twisting operation, and means closing the sensing circuit responsive to the action of the traveler upon breakage of the yarn being wound thereby positioned closely adjacent the traveler, whereby a signal and the like may be given indicating breakage of the yarn.

2. In a textile machine having a ring and a traveler which is normally supported in raised position by the yarn being wound thereby during a normal twisting operation, the improvement including, a conducting element positioned closely adjacent the traveler, said conducting element being so positioned so as to be engaged by the traveler should yarn carrying the traveler break, and a sensing circuit actuated by engagement of the traveler with said conducting element, whereby a signal and the like may be given indicating breakage of the yarn.

3. In a textile machine having a ring and a traveler which is normally supported in raised position by the yarn being wound thereby during a normal twist inserting operation, the improvement including, an annular conducting element positioned adjacent the traveler, said annular conducting element being so positioned so as to be engaged by the traveler should yarn carrying the traveler break, and a sensing circuit actuated by engagement of the traveler with said conducting element, whereby a signal and the like may be given indicating breakage of the yarn. 4. In a textile machine having a ring and a traveler which. is normally supported in raised position by the yarn being wound thereby during a normal twist inserting operation, the improvement including, a pair of an nular conducting elements positioned adjacent the traveler, said pair of annular conducting elements being insulated from each other and positioned so as to be engaged by the traveler should the yarn carrying the traveler break, and a sensing circuit energized by engagement of thetraveler with said conducting elements, whereby a signal and the like may be given indicating breakage of the yarn.

5. In a twisting ring having an upper fiange and a traveler which is normally supported in raised position by the yarn being wound thereby during a normal twist inserting operation, the improvement including, an annular conducting element positioned adjacent the traveler, said annular conducting element forming a portion of the upper flange and being insulated from the remainder of the ring and being so positioned as to be engaged by the traveler should the yarn carrying the traveler break, and a sensing circuit actuated by engagement of the traveler with said conducting element. 7

6. In a twisting ring having a traveler which is normally supported in raised position by the yarn being wound thereby during a normal twist inserting operation, the improvement including, a pair of annular conducting elements positioned adjacent the traveler forming the ring, said pair of annular conducting elements being insulated from each other and being substantially channel shaped in cross section and so positioned as to form the twisting ring, and a sensing circuit actuated by engagement of the traveler with said conducting elements when the yarn breaks.

7. In a textile machine having-a ring and a traveler which is normally supported in raised position by the yarn being wound thereby duringa normal twist inserting operation, the improvement including, an annular conducting element positioned adjacent the outer portion of the traveler and being insulated from the ring, an annular camming surface positioned beneath and adjacent the inner portion of the traveler so as to exert a camming action on the traveler upon the falling of the traveler due to breakage of the yarn causing the traveler to engage the conducting element, and a sensing circuit actuated by engagement'of the traveler with said conducting element when the yarn breaks.

8. A control device for ring frames and the like having a ring and a traveler moved on the ring by the yarn being wound thereby during normal operation including, sensing means positioned closely adjacent the traveler actuated by the action of the traveler upon the breakage or excessive slackness of the yarn, and a sensing circuit actuated by said sensing means upon such actuation of the sensing means, whereby a signal and the like is given of such breakage or excessive slackness of the yarn.

9. In a textile machine having a ring and a traveler which is normally moved on the ring by the yarn being wound thereby during normal operation, the improvement including, an electrical sensing circuit which remains inactive during normal operation, and means positioned closely adjacent the traveler actuating the sensing circuit responsive to the action of the traveler upon breakage or excessive slackness of 'the yarn being wound thereby, whereby a signal and the like is given indicating such breakage or excessive slackness of the yarn.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

